Cationic Polymers for Coating Living Cells

Abstract

Cytocompatible coating of living cells have been reported as useful methods for enhancing stability of inner cells under in vitro conditions, providing chemical functionality on cell surfaces, and controlling kinetics of cell proliferations. These chemically driven events are often utilized for the development of cell based sensor, tissue engineering, and cell therapy, as well as for understanding single-cell behavior. Because most of the cell surface is negatively charged, selection and control of cationic polymers are significant for enhancing electrostatic interactions between the cell surface and the polymer, and for reducing toxicity of the cationic polymers. In this review, cationic polymers used for coating living cells are highlighted as a single layered coat, as a component of layer-by-layer (LbL) film with anionic polymer species, or as a catalytic template inducing inorganic materials of interest. Cationic biopolymers and synthetic polymers compatible to the target cell are covered in this review.